Publix
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Florida man has filed a federal lawsuit against Publix, claiming the grocery chain discriminated against him and ultimately terminated his employment in retaliation for his reporting.
Plaintiff Barry Chance, who is Black, filed his lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division.
The named defendants are Publix Super Markets Inc., doing business as Publix Distribution Center, and Andrew Boyle. Boyle, who is white, was Chance’s supervisor at the Publix Distribution Center in Jacksonville.
Publix is the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States.
“White employees, including but not limited to Jack Hilson, were treated more favorably than Plaintiff with respect to job assignments, promotional opportunities, pay, and discipline,” he alleges in his 11-page lawsuit.
“Plaintiff was subjected to demotion, reduced pay, denial of promotion, a racially hostile work environment, and termination because of his race (Black) and in retaliation for opposing racial discrimination.”
According to his filing, Chance was employed at the chain’s distribution center on Beaver Street in Jacksonville. He began his employment June 1, 2023 as a transport refrigeration technician.
In July 2023, he applied for and was later selected for the position of refrigeration service technician after successfully passing all required tests. He received a raise in connection with the promotion and continued in that position for about one year.
A year later, he received another raise based on his performance.
Not even a month later, Chance claims he was told by “white management personnel” that he was being demoted to diesel mechanic and that his pay would be reduced.
“Plaintiff was given no legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the demotion,” his complaint states. “Plaintiff accepted the demotion under protest to avoid immediate termination.”
In 2025, Chance alleges he observed and was subjected, himself, to racially discriminatory conduct in the workplace.
“A co-worker openly stated that he did not like Black people,” the lawsuit states. “That co-worker was not initially disciplined or terminated.
“Only after the co-worker posted on social media that he could say anything at work without consequence, and after another co-worker provided the social media post to management, was the racist co-worker eventually terminated.”
Chance claims he was passed over for a transport refrigeration position in November 2025, despite passing all required tests and having the necessary qualifications.
Boyle and Publix, he alleges, instead awarded the position to a white co-worker, Jack Hilson, who failed the required tests and lacked the experience for the role.
“Almost immediately after Plaintiff complained about the racially preferential award of the position to Hilson, Hilson began playing loud rap music in the warehouse that contained profanity and repeated use of the racial slur ‘n…’ (the ‘N-word’),” Chance alleges in his filing, noting that Boyle told Hilson about Chance filing a complaint over his hiring.
“The playing of the racially offensive music was done in a manner designed to harass, intimidate, and create a hostile work environment for Plaintiff because of his race.”
About a week after Chance reported the “racially hostile” conduct to Publix’s human resources – allegedly sending an email with video evidence – Boyle called Chance to tell him his employment was terminated.
“When Plaintiff asked for the reason, Boyle stated only that ‘it is not working out,’” the lawsuit states.
Chance claims he immediately disputed the termination. In January 2026, the company upheld the termination; Chance appealed. In March 2026, he was sent a letter from Publix denying his appeal and again affirming the termination.
Chance seeks back pay, front pay, and lost benefits; compensatory damages; punitive damages; pre- and post-judgment interest; and attorney fees.
Miami firm Simpson & Mena PA is representing him in the lawsuit.
